Former journalist and social cohesion activist, Yusuf Abramjee, has called on South Africans not to travel to Syria to fight in the war that has claimed thousands of lives.
Speaking in Port Elizabeth over the weekend, Abrahmjee said that two South Africans, one from Durban and one from Port Elizabeth, were recently killed while allegedly fighting for rebel groups in that country.
Algoa FM News caught up with Abramjee on Monday morning.
"We know that two South Africans were killed in Syria over the recent days, one young man from Durban and the other from Port Elizabeth. This is why I appeal to local South Africans not to travel to Syria to take part in so called Jihad or joining any of the groups because for people to be indoctrinated to travel to these areas is totally unacceptable. We also know that South African laws does not permit locals to travel to conflict areas to part in any of the wars" he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of International Relations said it bears no knowledge of two South Africans killed in fighting in Syria.
Department spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, was responding to a statement from Abramjee.
Ambramjee however said that the men, in their twenties, travelled together with another group of men.
The families have asked that these names not be released.
